In India, wildlife such as elephants and rhinos are at risk from annual monsoon floods, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. Elephant and Rhino calves orphaned by disaster need years of intensive care before they are able to fend for themselves in the wild. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), in partnership with the Wildlife Trust of India, has established a multi-species rehabilitation center where injured and orphaned wildlife get a second chance at life. The wildlife care center is located in the outskirts of Kaziranga National Park in the Northeast State of Assam, India. The dense human habitation surrounding the park makes the region unsuitable to release the animals back into the wild there. Instead, IFAW and WTI commit to moving the animals some 450 kilometers (280 miles) to Manas National Park, a world heritage site where the animals have the space to flourish.

Help these beautiful animals survive and return to the wild. Each donation here supports IFAW's Wildlife Rescue Center in Kaziranga, where they care for the orphaned animals, the field station at Manas National Park where the animals are released and acclimated to the wild, and the move of the animals across India to their new home.

REPORT FROM THE FIELD

April 11, 2014

Our partnership with IFAW yielded another heartwarming development recently when four orphaned Asian elephant calves were successfully moved to Manas National Park. With additional assistance from Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Assam Forest Department, the three injured and emaciated elephant calves were rescued and taken to the IFAW Wildlife Rescue Center in Kaziranga for care and rehabilitation. The orphaned calves were bottle-fed and hand raised at the center for the past five years; they are now weaned from milk and ready for the next phase of their rehabilitation process.

They've been fitted with radio collars to track their movement and activities. Initially they will spend time in a pre-release area and will go for regular 'walks' in the forest with their keepers. Gradually the calves will get opportunities to interact with wild elephants and begin their reintegration into native herds.

"The elephant rehabilitation program is one of our best animal welfare achievements in the region," said Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury, IFAW-WTI Regional Head  Northeast India. "We have rehabilitated 10 hand-reared elephants since 2006, and have got evidence of some of these animals integrated with wild herds in Manas National Park."

About IFAW

Founded in 1969, IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare) saves animals in crisis around the world. With projects in more than forty countries, IFAW rescues individual animals, works to prevent cruelty to animals, and advocates for the protection of wildlife and habitats.

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